Distributing piping for sprinkler systems



Nov. 6,- 1934. v P NE'LQN 1,979,400

DISTRIBUTING PIPING FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Jrvevi'r Patented Nov. 6, 1934 I DISTRIBUTING PIPING FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS -.Patrick 5. Neilon, Cleveland, v Ohio, assignorto The Grabler v Mamifacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, at corporation'of- Ohio Application"May 16,1930, ScrialNo. 452 ,2366

'3 Claims (01.469-16) The invention relates to the installation of a main supply lines leading from'the risers, and piping system and "more particularly to the inbranch lines lwhich extend laterally from the stallation of a piping system associated with main supply lines and carry the usual sprinn automatic sprinkler system. kler heads. These main supply lines and their H5 .An object of my invention is the provision of branch lines are suspended from the ceiling a so fittings assembled at predetermined intervals in predetermined distance and. in sprinkler inthe main supply 'line of a sprinkler system stallations or this type the width or areatobe whereby the branch lines extending laterally covered by the branch lines for a particular from these fittings may be positioned above the main supply line determines the position of the io axis of the main line and below the axis of the main supply line :with relation to the area to 5 main supply, yet maintain the branch line axes be covered. In instances where the area to be in the same plane relative to each other. covered by the branch lines is of considerable The foregoing features, as Well as others of the Width themain supply line is located centrally invention not particularly pointed out above, will with respect, to the opposite wallsofsuch area bemore particularly pointed out in theensui'ng and" through the medium of cross fittings which m specification and appended claims. are distributed or'spaced at predetermined in- Referring now to the drawings, in which like tervals in the main supply line, the branch reference characters in the several views denote lines which extend laterally inbpposite "direc like parts and in which, ticns fromthese cross fittings toward the re- "Fig. 1 is a View taken along the line indicated sp iv wa lsicarry p nk r. h ad 'whichin 7 by the arrows in Fig. 7 and illustrates infront Ca fi p e w w anne elevation a main supply line of a sprinklersysn instances Where the Widthior'area to 'be covtemwith oppositely extending branch lines con- B ed by "the branch lines is such that the nected to cross fittings in the main line and bra pp y lines b y O e S de Of the .l showing such branch lines located below the a nsupply l a ne ry to sufficiently so center line or ofthe main supply line; cover the area, the main supply line maybe s 1 a i i ila t Fig, 1, ith a T fitlocated adjacent to one.of the. walls enclosing ting in the main line with the laterallyex- Such an area. Thloughthe medium of T fittending branch line connectedto the Tfitting tings paced a p edete m ned intervals in the .130 and showing such a branch line located below main supply line, branch lines extend laterally 85 the center line or axis of the main line; rom the T fittings toward the opposite wall. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a T fitting in which "These main pp y lines and thei b a c es the branch outlet of the sameis located eccenextfinding a right angles theretO a a aidy trically. relative to theaxis of the main outlets pointed are suspended r m he ceilin a C of the T fitting; v predetermined distance which, as is'readily ap 90 Fig. 4 is a transverse section ofthe T fitting n reduces h i n height headroom used in Fig. 2,.showing the location of the ecan epplciableamounh 1130 8 i ta ces this centric branch outlet with relation to themain reduction of e ng heigh h room is not 0111 1311301 t same; i an important factorbut in a great many cases .eu' Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a cross fitting the ma Ceiling height "0 head IOOm 95 used in Fig. 1, showing the location of the ecmost; impm'tant- This pec a y t ue In centric diametrically opposite branch outlets 52 l f manuiaeturmg P with relationto the main outlets of thesame; the avallable helght head r Fig. 6 is a sectional plan. view along the line portant from the standpoint ofmachinery .r- 6-6 of Fig.1 and looking in the-direction of t fl I 1 the arrows; and Referring to the structure of the "eccentric T Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a main fitting illustrawd f' 3, this fi g F as supply line showing my invention in detail, Shown, compllses a y DO QH'Z' Includwherein the application of a T fitting in. the ing the diametrifially pp main Ou lets 3 main supply-line includes an offset therein for and 4 and the eccentrically branched Outlet 5. 1

clearing obstructions. v a Q r This branch outlet 5, the axis of which is at An automatic sprinkler system as is wellright-angles to the axis of. the-main outlets 3 known is installed-in a building for protective and e l, iseccentrically disposed relative to the measures against fire and comprises essentially axis of the main outlets 3 and 4, as clearly ila power pump, risers extending therefrom, lustrated in Fig. 4. This eccentric position of the branch outlet 5 relative to the main outlets 3 and 4 permits the same to be positioned either above or below the center line or axis of the main supply line, but the relationship between the main supply line and the branch outlet 5 is of course dependent upon the manner in which the T fitting is assembled in the main supply line, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

A cross fitting C is shown in section in Fig. 5 and comprises a main body portion 10 and its diametrically opposite main outlets 11 and 12, and the diametrically opposite branch outlets 13 and 14 which are at right angles to the main outlets 11 and 12. The branch outlets 13 and 14 are eccentrically disposed with relation to the axes of the main outlets 11 and 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The fitting C may also be assembled in a main supply line with its branch outlets 13 and 14 positioned above or below the center line or axis of the same, the relationship between the main supply line and the branch outlets of the fitting C being of course dependent upon the manner in which the cross fitting C is assembled in a main supply line as will presently be described.

Having described the structure of the eccentric T fitting F and cross fitting C, a description of their assembly in the main supply line of a sprinkler system and the advantage and economy as to the number of fittings used in a system equipped with this type of fitting, will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 1, a typical sprinkler system is illustrated in which the main supply line 20 has connected thereto the oppositely extending branch lines 21 and 22 which support the sprinkler heads 23 on suitable reducing T fittings, as is well understood. In Fig. 1 I have shown the cross fitting C above referred to assembled in the main supply line 20 and as illustrated in Fig. 6, these cross fittings C are assembled in the main supply line at predetermined intervals. The cross fittings C are connected in the main supply line 20 so as to locate the eccentrically disposed branch outlets 13 and 14 of the same below the center line or axis of the main supply line 20 which, as is readily apparent, also locates the oppositely extending branch lines 21 and 22 connected to the branch outlets 13 and 14 below the axis of the main supply line 20.

In Fig. 2 I illustrate the use of a T fitting F assembled in a main supply line 30 and from which extends laterally the branch lines 31. The T fittings'F are connected in the main supply line 30 so as to locate the eccentrically disposed branch outlets 5 below the center line or axis of the main supply line which, as is 7 main supply line 20 provided with an offset 41 to avoid obstructions '42 and 43 which lie adjacent the ceiling 44. This offset 41 locates the axis of that portion of the main supply line 20 to the left of the same below the axis of that portion of the main supply line 20 extending to the right of the offset 41.

A T fitting F is shown to the left of the offset 41 and one to the right of the same. By locating the eccentric branch outlet 14 of the T fitting at the left of the offset 41 above the center line or axis of this portion of the main supply line 20, and locating the eccentric branch outlet 14 of the T fitting at the right of the offset 41 below the center line or axis of this portion of the main supply line 20, the axes of the laterally extending branch lines 22 are thus maintained in the same plane to permit the branch lines to remain a predetermined distance from the ceiling 25. The above description has reference to a T fitting F but it is readily understood that a cross fitting such as C, may also be reversed in the manner just described.

The T fitting illustrated in Fig. 4 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite tapped orifices 50 and 51 for the reception of a sprinkler head, but the connection of a sprinkler head with either of the tapped orifices 50 and 51 is of course dependent upon the manner in which the T fitting is assembled in the main line. As shown, the orifice 50 has secured therein a sprinkler head 23 while the orifice 51 is closed by a suitable plug 53.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A sprinkler system of the class described comprising a main supply line, branch fittings in said main line including axially aligned main outlets for connection with said main line, and axially aligned branch outlets eccentrically disposed with relation to said main outlets, fluid distributing means connected in said branch outlets, offset fittings in said main line disposed to position the axis of a portion of the main line in a plane below the plane of the of another portion, said branch fittings being connected in the main line at opposite sides of said offset fittings, and so disposed to position all of the fluid distributing means in a single plane.

2. A sprinkler system of the class described comprising a main supply line, branch fittings in said main line including axially aligned main outlets for connection with said main line, and axially aligned branch outlets eccentrically disposed with relation to said main outlets, fluid distributing means connected in said branch outlets, offset fittings in said main line disposed to position the axis of a portion of the main line in a plane below the plane of the axis of another portion, said branch fittings being connected in the main line at opposite sides of said offset fittings, and being so disposed as to position all of said fluid distributing means in a single horizontal plane between the planes of the olfset portions of the main line axis.

3. A sprinkler system of the class described comprising a main supply line, offset fittings in said main line disposed to position portions of the axis of the main line in vertically spaced horizontal planes, branch fittings in said main line including main line outlets for connection with the main line and branch line outlets eccentrically disposed relative to the main line outlets, and branch lines, including fluid sprinkling means, connected in said branch outlets, said branch fittings being so disposed to position all of the branch lines in a plane between the spaced planes in which the offset portions of the main line axis are disposed.

PATRICK J. NEILON. 

